JOIN USResults of the study have been published in the British Medical Journal.
A university release said that researcher Dr Roman Hovorka led two studies to evaluate the performance of the artificial pancreas in 10 men and 14 women, aged 18 to 65, who had used an insulin pump for at least three months.
Hypoglycaemia (or a ‘hypo’) occurs when the level of glucose in the blood falls too low.
If left untreated the person having a hypo can eventually become unconscious after experiencing warning signs as the body tries to raise the blood glucose level.
These unpleasant signs often include feeling shaky, sweating, tingling in the lips, heart pounding, and irritability.
In extreme cases hypoglycaemia can lead to coma and brain damage, and can sometimes prove fatal, the release added.
The “artificial pancreas” or closed-loop insulin delivery system automatically manages a person’s diabetes.
The device regulates blood glucose levels by releasing insulin when alerted to high levels of glucose, and withholding it when levels are low. Currently people with Type 1 diabetes have to either inject insulin several times a day or wear an insulin pump which releases the hormone via a cannula inserted under the skin.
The first study monitored 12 participants overnight after consuming a medium-sized meal (60 g carbohydrate) at 7pm.
In the second study, the other 12 participants were monitored overnight after consuming a larger meal (100 g carbohydrate) accompanied by alcohol at 8.30pm.
Blood glucose level
The studies showed a 22 per cent improvement in the time participants kept their blood glucose levels in a safe range, halving the time they spent with low blood glucose levels and reducing the risk of both short term and long term complications.
Dr Hovorka said: “Hypoglycaemia remains a major challenge, especially during the night, so it is encouraging to see such promising results from our trial using commercially available devices.
“The study is a stepping stone to testing the artificial pancreas at home and suggests that the artificial pancreas may be suitable in adults as well as in children and adolescents we found previously.”